Too easy to forget Rumsfeld's words on the looting of Iraq. "Stuff happens". [View all]

[madfloridian]

He said so many outrageous things during the Iraq invasion. I don't think we should ever forget or let him forget his arrogance.

When we invaded Iraq in 2003 based on lies, there was terrible looting of that country's antiquities. There were so many irreplaceable historical treasures in museums there, and once we attacked with our shock and awe the looting began.

His words during that time were breathtaking. They were evil.

What Rumsfeld said about the looting of Iraq

From CNN 2003:

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Declaring that freedom is "untidy," Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said Friday the looting in Iraq was a result of "pent-up feelings" of oppression and that it would subside as Iraqis adjusted to life without Saddam Hussein.

He also asserted the looting was not as bad as some television and newspaper reports have indicated and said there was no major crisis in Baghdad, the capital city, which lacks a central governing authority. The looting, he suggested, was "part of the price" for what the United States and Britain have called the liberation of Iraq.

"Freedom's untidy, and free people are free to make mistakes and commit crimes and do bad things," Rumsfeld said. "They're also free to live their lives and do wonderful things. And that's what's going to happen here."

Looting, he added, was not uncommon for countries that experience significant social upheaval. "Stuff happens," Rumsfeld said. Gen. Richard Myers, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, agreed. "This is a transition period between war and what we hope will be a much more peaceful time," Myers said.

Please note that General Myers agreed.

There is an article by Tom DeFrank at the National Journal today about how Rumsfeld undermined General Shinseki after his appointment by Bill Clinton to Army chief of staff.

How Donald Rumsfeld Complicated Eric Shinseki's Last Administration Exit

But let's not forget that Ric Shinseki is not just a highly decorated commander and wounded warrior, losing part of his foot in Vietnam and clawing his way back onto active duty against the wishes of Army brass. He's a truth-teller of the first rank—and that display of character so enraged the George W. Bush defense team that he encountered some of the shabbiest treatment an officer and a gentleman has ever encountered during my 46 years serving in and hanging around the Pentagon.

It didn't help his case with the Bushies that Bill Clinton had appointed him Army chief of staff. Moreover, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, who didn't enjoy being challenged, quickly took a dislike to Shinseki after several policy and strategy disagreements.

Rummy was so intent on punishing Shinseki, in fact, that he directed one of his flack-shop acolytes to leak word of his replacement to the New York Times—15 months before Shinseki's four-year term was up.

This had the instant effect of rendering Shinseki a lame duck within the E-ring, the Pentagon's power corridor. It was cheesy, petty, shameful and totally unwarranted behavior. The Rumsfeld crowd loved themselves for it.

I like the way DeFrank referred to Shinseki's departure from the Veterans' Administration.

In the political game there's often a difference between needing to go and deserving to go. Not for the first time in a storied career, Ric Shinseki deserved better.

I realize that President Obama truly had no choice but to accept his resignation since so many Democrats were publicly calling for him to go.

But something in me wishes that our Democrats as a party had stood up together and made it clear how the Republicans had been saying no to needed resources and funding.